By Dan Walsh at Ballyellis
Marking the 225th anniversary of the Rebellion of 1798 a commemoration will take place next Sunday at the site of an ambush marked by a memorial on the R725 Gorey-Carnew road close to the Wexford-Wicklow border and the organisers welcome everybody who may wish to attend.
Events will commence with 11am Mass in Askamore Church and events at Ballyellis crossroads are expected to get under way around 12.30pm.
The ceremony is expected to include a pike march, laying of wreaths, talks from a local historian and a folklorist, in the presence of pike groups and re-enactors, everybody is invited, whether participant or interested party, and there will be refreshments afterwards in Carnew.
The impressive Celtic cross on the Carnew-Gorey road carries the following inscription, as Gaeilge agus as Beala; “This cross was erected to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the men of Wexford and Wicklow who defeated the Ancient Britons and other British Forces at Ballyellis June 29th 1798. Grant them, eternal rest, O Lord. Erected by the Askamore and Ballyellis ’98 Association. June 29th 1941.”
The United Irishmen scored one last victory over the Crown Forces on the Wexford/Wicklow border when they lured a 200-man cavalry unit called The Ancient Britons from North Wales into a three-sided ambush in Ballyellis.
The site of the ambush was on a bend in the road bordered by high, thick ditches of crab and thorn on both sides, a high wall belonging to a deer park and a dyke five feet deep, close to the Ballyellis House on the estate of Sir Jervis White Jervis.
In the ambush and pursuit of the military, the Ancient Britons lost over 60 troops, including a French émigré, and two officers were killed. No rebel casualties were reported.
A grave bearing the remains of the Ancient Britons is located a short distance away.
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